In the life which they lead presently, how many times she laments that she was allowed to go on in that aim- less, happy way at home 1 If she is a good girl, and wishes sincerely to be a good wife, she mourns that she is wasting money which her husband has worked hard and patiently to earn. At home she never bought even a pair of gloves with- out advice ; her judgment is entirely uncultivated ; she has little independence of character. The mistaken idea which regulated her life as a daughter causes her much suffering as a wife. She goes forward with the uncertain step of a little child. She has so many new anxieties, she makes such mistakes in the things she buys, is easily made to 104 HOUSEHOLD HINTS. think in the store that she needs things which when at home she does not even wish to have. She is imposed upon continually. It is a shame for girls to be brought up in this way, and generally they are not to blame ; the mothers who ought to know better must be held responsible for this state of things, and for the poor, incompetent wives they are pro- viding for young men from whom they require much more than they are giving. What mother would willingly give her daughter to a young man whose only preparation for a life with her had been amusing himself idly as best he might, and who is without money, health, or good sense ? It could not render any girl less agreeable as a daugh- ter, or less happy as a young lady, if she were taught to depend on herself more. She might easily learn to select and oversee the making of her own wardrobe, and become an expert in deciding upon the quality of goods ; she might occasionally try the experiment of choosing table linen and carpets for her father's house, and give her husband the benefit of her experience. Self-reliance needs to be cultivated. If, then, hers is one of the uneventful lives where every step seems to be made smooth for her feet, it will not be hard for her to forget these practical lessons; but, if, as she has every reason to expect, her path lies up hill and over rough roads, the training which has developed in her character that rare quality strangely called common sense will be like a staff to her hands. THE CHANGES OF TIME. Every one who has the care of little children ought to congratulate herself upon the fact that the world has moved since her own childhood. It is often said that it is harder to bring up children now than it used to be, so much more time and money being required for clothing alone. This statement does not bear close inspection. For TALKS UPON VARIOUS SUBJECTS 105 example, take the matter of ornamentation twenty or twenty-five years ago. Many a mother, at the risk of in- juring her eyesight, sat up late at night doing the fine embroidery which she thought she must have, but which she could not afford to buy. She spent hours in laboriously tracing patterns which she can now get stamped upon any material for a few cents. The pretty and cheap Hamburg, the neat suits already made, which can be bought for small sums, set a woman's heart at rest many times when she can not see her way clear to make these. But a greater and more important change has occurred in the conditions which have made it possible for a child to live a happy and healthy intellectual life ; "sweetness and light" are as full of blessing to the child as to the grown man. The hour comes very early when the child begins to feel that " this is I," a.nd to ques- tion whither he in common with the race is going. What Christian mother would have dared in the old days to soothe a child as a wise young mother of my acquaintance did a short time ago ?

AI-modernized reading of the original text

In the life which they lead presently, how many times she laments that she was allowed to go on in that aimless, happy way at home 1 If she is a good girl, and wishes sincerely to be a good wife, she mourns that she is wasting money which her husband has worked hard and patiently to earn. At home she never bought even a pair of gloves without advice ; her judgment is entirely uncultivated ; she has little independence of character. The mistaken idea which regulated her life as a daughter causes her much suffering as a wife. She goes forward with the uncertain step of a little child. She has so many new anxieties, she makes such mistakes in the things she buys, is easily made to think in the store that she needs things which when at home she does not even wish to have. She is imposed upon continually. It is a shame for girls to be brought up in this way, and generally they are not to blame ; the mothers who ought to know better must be held responsible for this state of things, and for the poor, incompetent wives they are providing for young men from whom they require much more than they are giving. What mother would willingly give her daughter to a young man whose only preparation for a life with her had been amusing himself idly as best he might, and who is without money, health, or good sense ? It could not render any girl less agreeable as a daughter, or less happy as a young lady, if she were taught to depend on herself more. She might easily learn to select and oversee the making of her own wardrobe, and become an expert in deciding upon the quality of goods ; she might occasionally try the experiment of choosing table linen and carpets for her father's house, and give her husband the benefit of her experience. Self-reliance needs to be cultivated. If, then, hers is one of the uneventful lives where every step seems to be made smooth for her feet, it will not be hard for her to forget these practical lessons; but, if, as she has every reason to expect, her path lies up hill and over rough roads, the training which has developed in her character that rare quality strangely called common sense will be like a staff to her hands. THE CHANGES OF TIME. Every one who has the care of little children ought to congratulate herself upon the fact that the world has moved since her own childhood. It is often said that it is harder to bring up children now than it used to be, so much more time and money being required for clothing alone. This statement does not bear close inspection. For example, take the matter of ornamentation twenty or twenty-five years ago. Many a mother, at the risk of injuring her eyesight, sat up late at night doing the fine embroidery which she thought she must have, but which she could not afford to buy. She spent hours in laboriously tracing patterns which she can now get stamped upon any material for a few cents. The pretty and cheap Hamburg, the neat suits already made, which can be bought for small sums, set a woman's heart at rest many times when she can not see her way clear to make these. But a greater and more important change has occurred in the conditions which have made it possible for a child to live a happy and healthy intellectual life ; "sweetness and light" are as full of blessing to the child as to the grown man. The hour comes very early when the child begins to feel that " this is I," a.nd to question whither he in common with the race is going. What Christian mother would have dared in the old days to soothe a child as a wise young mother of my acquaintance did a short time ago ?

Household hints